Swanson, S. J.Rosenzweig, A.Seidman, J. G.Libby, Peter2018-03-271994Swanson, S. J., A. Rosenzweig, J. G. Seidman, and P. Libby. 1994. “Diversity of T-Cell Antigen Receptor V Beta Gene Utilization in Advanced Human Atheroma.” Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis, and Vascular Biology 14 (7) (July 1): 1210–1214. doi:10.1161/01.atv.14.7.1210.1079-5642http://nrs.harvard.edu/urn-3:HUL.InstRepos:35140994Human atheromata contain T lymphocytes, but knowledge of the function and receptor specificity of these cells is limited. Immunohistochemical studies have established that T cells in advanced human carotid plaques express predominantly the alpha/beta form of the T-cell receptor (TCR). We then compared the use of variable region genes of the beta-chain (V beta) of the TCR for antigen by analysis of 14 carotid plaques and peripheral blood samples obtained at carotid endarterectomy. We used a direct approach that avoids isolation and culture of T cells. RNA extracted from lesions and peripheral blood mononuclear cells was reverse transcribed and amplified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to determine rearrangements of 18 V beta sequences. PCR products were visualized on Southern blots using a probe internal to the PCR primers. Input cDNA from lesions and peripheral blood was adjusted to yield equivalent signals for a conserved region of the TCR beta-chain to permit comparisons. As expected, utilization of TCR V beta genes in peripheral blood cells was nonselective: an average of 17 of 18 V beta regions yielded signals (n = 14). Frequency of variable-region gene usage in lesions and blood was highly concordant: of 252 sequences tested (14 samples, 18 sequences per sample), 240 were identified in peripheral blood versus 207 in plaques. V beta genes 10 and 11 were not expressed in plaques, a significant difference when compared with peripheral blood (P = .0001 by chi 2). However, the remaining 16 genes showed no significant differences. This analysis indicates that T cells generally express a diverse pattern of V beta genes within complex human atheroma.en-USimmunologypolymerase chain reactionatherosclerosisT lymphocyteJournal Article10.1161/01.ATV.14.7.1210